Call for RSPCA to lose livestock inspection role

The Western Australian Farmers Federation says the RSPCA is losing its way and should lose the responsibility of enforcing livestock welfare regulations.

The RSPCA inspects farming properties and prosecutes producers who fail to ensure the welfare of animals, under a contract with the State Government which is due to expire in June.

Federation President Dale Park says the society's campaigns against live exports and other issues shows it has lost its way.

Mr Park says the society is becoming a "lobby group" and it cannot maintain a regulation-enforcement role at the same time.

He says having Government officials fulfil the duties would be a better option.

"It's the only statute that is administered by people other than Government, so one would suspect that maybe a Government instrumentality would be a far better source of inspectorates, rather than a lobby group," he said.

"I'm not sure we need a lobby group to be upholding the law at the same time.

"Those two functions I'm not sure ... we certainly aren't comfortable with them having those sorts of policies."

The RSPCA's national president, Lynne Bradshaw, says it is "simply wrong" to suggest the organisation is becoming a lobby group and it is continuing to fight to protect animal welfare.

"Well it's inaccurate, of course," she said.

"The RSPCA does have a role in advocating for animals and advocating for change to conditions for animals and that's really as far as it goes.